Nov. 27, 2012 - For the first time in its 16-year history, the Northeast Football Conference has three teams playing in bowl games. ASA meets Snow (Utah)?in the Carrier Dome Bowl in Syracuse, N.Y., Nassau plays Arizona Western in the El Toro Bowl in Yuma, Ariz., while Louisburg faces Ellsworth (Iowa) in the Graphic Edge Bowl in Cedar Falls, Iowa.
The NEFC?has twice had two institutions appear in bowl games, 2008 and 2011.

Bowl Previews:?The Carrier Dome Bowl features two high-powered offenses and defenses in Snow and ASA. The Badgers are ninth overall in total offense (474.9 yards per game) while ASA?is 10th (449.4 ypg). Snow averages 253.3 yards per game passing, 11th in the nation, and 221.6 rushing for 14th in the nation, while ASA is fifth nationally in rushing, 264.1. ASA?averages 50.1 points per game for second, while Snow is 10th at 42 ppg. The game will be available on the iHigh network.

Defensively, ASA has allowed 77 points (8.6 ppg) to lead the nation while Snow has allowed 157 points (14.3) to rank eighth. The Avengers allow a nation’s best average of 115.7 yards per game while Snow allows 274.7 (20th). ASA?tops the nation is passing yards allowed (82.4) and rushing yards allowed (33.2).

The Nassau/Arizona Western matchup in the El Toro Bowl also features rushing offenses in the NJCAA’s Top 20. Nassau is third in rushing at 272.8 while Arizona Western is 17th at 203.1. Western features the nation’s 14th-best passing attack at 245.9 and ranks 11th overall at 449 yards per game in offense while Nassau is 17th overall (418.7 ypg). Defensively, Nassau ranks fifth in points allowed (12.5 ppg)?while Arizona Western is 29th (22.6). The game will be broadcast. Visit the El Toro Bowl for more information.

In addition to the Graphic Edge Bowl being a homecoming of sorts for Louisburg head coach John Sala, the contest between Louisburg and Ellsworth will feature opportunistic defenses as both team have recorded 23 takeaways. Sala, who will be coaching in his fourth Graphic Edge Bowl, was the Ellsworth head coach prior to taking over at Louisburg.

Top Ranking:?Following a review of the NJCAA?polls, ASA’s ranking at third is tied for the highest by a NEFC?member. Nassau was ranked third in the Nov. 5 edition and the Lions were fourth in the final poll of the 2010 season and were fourth in the Oct. 11, 2005, edition.

Champ: ASA, the nation’s third-ranked team, won the 2012 NEFC?title with a 30-29 win over Nassau Nov. 10. The league championship was the first in the Avengers’ history.

All-NEFC?Honors: The NEFC recently announced its 2012 all-conference teams. ASA running back Hosey Williams was named the Northeast Football Conference’s Player of the Year. Williams ran for a league-high 1,172 yards as the Avengers went 9-0 this past season and won the league championship. Nassau linebacker Amara Kamara was chosen as the defensive player of the year. ASA’s Dennis Orlando and Nassau’s Curtis Guilliam were both honored as coach of the year.

NJCAA Stats:?The NEFC?has several individuals ranked among the nation’s statistical leaders. In rushing yards per game, ASA’s Hosey Williams is fourth with 130.2 yards per game and Nassau’s Louis Johnson is 10th at 102.8. Nassau’s Travis Lock and Williams are tied for seventh with 12 rushing touchdowns. In receiving yards per game, Louisburg’s Demarques Martin is 10th at 87.7. Lackwanna’s DeChavon Hayes is fifth in kickoff returns, averaging 32.4 yards per return and he is one of five players in the nation to have returned two kickoffs for touchdowns, and Nassau’s Shannon Maura is 10th at 30.6 per return. Dean’s Rodney Whitehead leads the nation with a 22.8 yard average in punt returns and he is one of three players to have returned two punts for scores. ASA’s Tevin Grant (15.0) is sixth and Lackawanna’s Michael McGrue is 10th (14.1) in punt return average.

In the team categories, the league has three teams in the top six in rushing offense. Nassau is first at 284.8 yards rushing per game while Lackawanna is second (279.6) and ASA?fifth (268.5). In scoring, ASA?is second (56.7 points per game) and the Avengers are 10th in total offense, 455.4 yards per game.

On the defensive side, ASA?is first in total defense, allowing 89.1 yards per game. Lackawanna is second, allowing 192.5. The Avengers also lead the nation is rushing yards allowed, 16.8 per game. Lackawanna is sixth at 73.1. ASA is second in scoring defense, allowing 6.0 points per game. Nassau is fourth (10.6) and Lackawanna is eighth (12.5). In passing defense, ASA?is second (72.4). Nassau is seventh with 19 interceptions.

NJCAA?National Players of the Week: After the NEFC?had both the Defensive Player of the Week (Hudson Valley’s Gordie Pine)?and the Special Teams Player of the Week (ASA’s Cherchen Aloema) Nov. 14, the NEFC?had six players honored as the NJCAA?National Players of the Week this season. Louisburg defensive back Jeffery Richardson was selected Oct. 26, ASA?wide receiver Ouslet Volcey was chosen Oct. 12 while Nassau defensive back Marc Mauro was picked Sept. 26 and Erie defensive back Dorian Polk was the Sept. 19 selection.